Tacloban Shooter, 15, Acted With Discernment – DSWD

Initial findings from interviews of psychologists and social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showed that the 15-year-old student who shot his schoolmates in Tacloban City had “acted with discernment.”

“This initial assessment of the minor’s capacity to distinguish right from wrong still requires formal verification by the court,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian disclosed on Monday, June 29, as he confirmed that the student can be held liable for “criminal liability” under the Juvenile Justice Law.

“Under the law, if you are 15 years old plus one day up to 18 years of age, then you can be held with criminal liability if you acted with discernment. Discernment means you know what you’re doing, what is right and wrong, that you planned and carried it out,” Gatchalian explained.

“And you know as well the consequences of your actions. Now, if we found out and determined that you acted with discernment, then you have criminal liability and we can file criminal cases against you,” the DSWD chief asserted.

The DSWD is still awaiting the official results of the psychological evaluation conducted on both the 15-year-old and 14-year-old children in conflict with the law (CICL), both of whom are currently in the custody of the DSWD’s Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Tacloban City.

Gatchalian said social workers are also continuously conducting trust-building interventions to make the children comfortable enough to eventually disclose vital information.

“The two minors are strictly monitored and are far from free as they are kept in separate rooms isolated from other CICL inside the rehabilitation facility. They are also prohibited from receiving visits or having any connection with their parents at this time,” he said.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the persistent lack of guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers weakened the schools’ ability to respond to learners experiencing distress.

“When one teacher is expected to care for 50 to 60 students at a time, meaningful intervention becomes nearly impossible. When guidance offices and school clinics are understaffed or nonexistent, learners struggling with bullying, family problems, mental health concerns or other social difficulties often have nowhere to turn. These compounding shortages directly affect the safety and well-being of our schools,” ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.

For its part, the Philippine National Police said it will strengthen child protection and cyber safety programs nationwide to support DepEd’s push to enhance school safety.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed all Women and Children Protection Desks to intensify information campaigns against bullying, child abuse, exploitation, violence against children and online threats in coordination with schools and local stakeholders, as well as the Anti-Cybercrime Group to expand cyber safety lectures for students, teachers and school personnel.

Cellphone ban up to schools – Palace

Meanwhile, Malacañang is leaving the decision to impose a cellphone ban in schools to their administrators after a local government unit enforced such a policy on Monday.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro was reacting to the order of Dumanjug, Cebu Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica of a total ban on mobile phones in schools to improve learning and classroom interaction.

“If you do not wish to follow this policy, you have the option to transfer your children to another municipality,” Gica said.

Under the new policy, which took effect on Monday, students who will bring mobile phones to campus will have their devices confiscated and will not be able to reclaim them until the end of the school year.

“The intention is good so the students can concentrate on their studies,” Castro noted. “I just can’t say whether the penalty is appropriate or this is reasonable because the school heads are the ones who will implement this.”

Video game ban

Sen. Bam Aquino voiced his opposition to a total ban on video games following the school shooting incident in Tacloban City, pushing instead for a stricter enforcement of age restriction on mature-rated games, similar to existing rules for films and television programs.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate committees on basic education and science and technology, said video games have become a “convenient scapegoat” when violent incidents occur, as he pointed out that numerous studies have found no link between video games and school shootings. – With Delon Porcalla, Helen Flores, Daphne Galvez, Fred Languido, Mark Ernest Villeza